Ask Us: Why is a driveway being added at Providence School?

Q: Providence School is doing a great job of managing traffic for drop-off and pick-up students. Kudos to their faculty and staff!

Now we hear that the Huntsville schools superintendent is about to add a new drive to the front of the school, a drive that will no doubt cost many thousands of dollars. Surely nobody of good conscience will spend to fix something that is not broken, while at the same time laying off over 100 teachers for lack of funds?

If this is done with federal dollars, stop the waste. If the money for the drive is from city coffers, then why hasn't the city made those dollars available to school system to retain faculty? And if the money is coming from the school system, well, words fail me. What's the story? - Kenny W. Whitley, Huntsville

A: The school system is adding a drop-off and pick-up lane to Providence for special education students. The lane, which will be accessible only during midday, will also serve students who check out of school early because of illness.

John Brown, director of operations for city schools, said the lane is necessary for special education students. Now those students must walk or be assisted to the school from the parking lot more than 200 feet away. The new lane will bring students within 40 feet of the main entrance, Brown said.

Drivers could use the new lane to drop off or pick up students before or after school, Brown said. The street leading to the current lane is often blocked by construction crews during the day.

The school system will add 36 more parking spots to Providence as part of the project. Four of those spaces will be designated handicapped spots.

The new lane will cost about $125,000 of school system money, but that money is earmarked only for capital projects, not teacher salaries.

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